At an annular eclipse in January 1981, we had a site right on the edge of the path (about 10 observers were located along a north-south baseline 50m apart). This was mid-eclipse.
If you are located close to the centreline of an annular eclipse a large number of beads may be seen so fast at 2nd and 3rd contact that you won't be able to time them. Close to the edge of the eclipse path they occur more slowly.
We used a C8 stopped down to 55mm (off-axis mask) and a projection screen. Bailey's Beads were easily seen by all (we were timing them), here's one of several shots ( in a howling gale on top of a mountain at 1500m so the scope was bouncing a lot). Yes the stopwatch was readable in most frames, and its time was checked against a shortwave time signal, before and after.
Edited by luxo II, 31 October 2023 - 11:06 PM.